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Article CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF THE DUMP PHILOSOPHER. ← Page 3 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Of The Dump Philosopher.
obtain a farther knowledge , which I shall not fail to communicate to you : but what , at this time , most commanded my attention , was a very curious and beautiful thermometer , which * by a label hanging to it , I found , had been sent my friend from Surinam , in South . America , by a learned Arabian Philosopher , called HaiEbn Salaman . This most exquisite piece of art is not above five inches hi gh , and stands ilt
on a gpedestal , into which the bail of the tube is fixed . This tube , which is about three inches long , is fastened to an ebonyframe , _ of the same length , and about an inch broad . On this frame are delineated the several degrees of heat and cold , by strokes of gold inlaid , but the characters ( probably , to conceal the real use of this little instrument ) were to me unintelli gible . The top of it rises to a semicircle , artificially inlaid with gold , representing certain characters , likewise unknown to me , and on each side of ilii ' s semicircle is
a beautiful vase , of the same metal . The tube is filled with a liquor , or spirit , of a resplendent ruby-red ; and I observed , to my very great surprise , that this liquor was almost in a continual motion , higher and lower ; though , upon running to the window , I could not findany visible alteration in the air . At a distance , I perceived the spirit in the tube stand fixed to the center , without motion ; but I no it
soonerapproached ., than it began to rise and fall , as before , and sometimes , with great swiftness , almost from top to bottom . Astonished at this phtenomenori , f set my little instrument on the table , and sat down , to examine it with more ease and leisure : I could , however , by no means , dive into the secret , and being tired with speculationcasting a Virgilwhich the
, my eyes upon , Jay upon table , I resolved to raise my spirits again , by reading a little in thatagreeable author : but how great was my amazement " ^ to see that , assoon as I began to read , the spirits in the tube of my little instrument rose at once several , degrees I it sunk , however , as precipitately , to its former situation , as soon as I laid down my book to examine it more narrowly .
i his seemed very strange to me , and I soon perceived that Hai Ebn Salaman was a greater artist than Toracelli . * But my wonder increased , when , upon taking up my book again , it rose " as before , and fell the moment . 1 left off reading . I began to imagine my breath might have some effeCt on this volatile spirit ; but could not observe the least difference , whether I read loud or softly , near to it or at distance this
some . Upon , I took up another book , which happened to be an ancient tract of logic , and here , to my great astonishment , I found that , as soon as I began to read , the liquor sunk several degrees below its center , and returned thither again , as soon as I laid my logic down . Some , in my place , would certainly have taken it for witchcraft ; and , I must confess , I could hardly forbear thinking it some illusion , or deceptio visas , not being able to conceive what hidden property could be contained in this liquor , or what the pre-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Of The Dump Philosopher.
obtain a farther knowledge , which I shall not fail to communicate to you : but what , at this time , most commanded my attention , was a very curious and beautiful thermometer , which * by a label hanging to it , I found , had been sent my friend from Surinam , in South . America , by a learned Arabian Philosopher , called HaiEbn Salaman . This most exquisite piece of art is not above five inches hi gh , and stands ilt
on a gpedestal , into which the bail of the tube is fixed . This tube , which is about three inches long , is fastened to an ebonyframe , _ of the same length , and about an inch broad . On this frame are delineated the several degrees of heat and cold , by strokes of gold inlaid , but the characters ( probably , to conceal the real use of this little instrument ) were to me unintelli gible . The top of it rises to a semicircle , artificially inlaid with gold , representing certain characters , likewise unknown to me , and on each side of ilii ' s semicircle is
a beautiful vase , of the same metal . The tube is filled with a liquor , or spirit , of a resplendent ruby-red ; and I observed , to my very great surprise , that this liquor was almost in a continual motion , higher and lower ; though , upon running to the window , I could not findany visible alteration in the air . At a distance , I perceived the spirit in the tube stand fixed to the center , without motion ; but I no it
soonerapproached ., than it began to rise and fall , as before , and sometimes , with great swiftness , almost from top to bottom . Astonished at this phtenomenori , f set my little instrument on the table , and sat down , to examine it with more ease and leisure : I could , however , by no means , dive into the secret , and being tired with speculationcasting a Virgilwhich the
, my eyes upon , Jay upon table , I resolved to raise my spirits again , by reading a little in thatagreeable author : but how great was my amazement " ^ to see that , assoon as I began to read , the spirits in the tube of my little instrument rose at once several , degrees I it sunk , however , as precipitately , to its former situation , as soon as I laid down my book to examine it more narrowly .
i his seemed very strange to me , and I soon perceived that Hai Ebn Salaman was a greater artist than Toracelli . * But my wonder increased , when , upon taking up my book again , it rose " as before , and fell the moment . 1 left off reading . I began to imagine my breath might have some effeCt on this volatile spirit ; but could not observe the least difference , whether I read loud or softly , near to it or at distance this
some . Upon , I took up another book , which happened to be an ancient tract of logic , and here , to my great astonishment , I found that , as soon as I began to read , the liquor sunk several degrees below its center , and returned thither again , as soon as I laid my logic down . Some , in my place , would certainly have taken it for witchcraft ; and , I must confess , I could hardly forbear thinking it some illusion , or deceptio visas , not being able to conceive what hidden property could be contained in this liquor , or what the pre-